Introduction
Egg yolks are often seen as unhealthy due to their high cholesterol content, but they can actually be beneficial to your health. Eating egg yolks can have some surprising effects on your body, from improving your heart health to helping you lose weight. Here are four surprising effects of eating egg yolks that you may not have known about.
4 Surprising Effects of Eating Egg Yolks
Egg yolks are often seen as unhealthy, but they can actually be beneficial to your health. Eating egg yolks can have a number of surprising effects on your body. Here are four of them.
1. Improved Brain Function
Egg yolks are a great source of choline, an essential nutrient that helps with brain development and memory. Studies have shown that people who eat more choline have better cognitive performance and memory. Choline also helps to reduce inflammation in the brain, which can help protect against age-related cognitive decline.
2. Lower Risk of Heart Disease
Egg yolks are high in cholesterol, but they also contain healthy fats that can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Studies have shown that people who eat more egg yolks have lower levels of bad cholesterol and higher levels of good cholesterol. This can help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
3. Improved Vision
Egg yolks are a great source of lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants that are important for eye health. These antioxidants help protect the eyes from damage caused by ultraviolet light and can help reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration. Eating egg yolks can also help improve vision in people with cataracts.
4. Stronger Bones
Egg yolks are a great source of calcium, which is important for strong bones and teeth. Studies have shown that people who eat more egg yolks have higher levels of calcium in their bones, which can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Eating egg yolks can also help improve bone density in people with osteoporosis.
Egg yolks can be a great addition to your diet. They are a good source of essential nutrients and can have a number of surprising health benefits. So, don’t be afraid to add some egg yolks to your meals!
Eating eggs means you might be getting an ample amount of protein added to your diet. This is great to help rebuild your body, and can potentially help you develop muscles. Not to mention, eggs may help you with your overall body health, such as potentially losing fat and lowering inflammation levels. There’s a lot that can be done by incorporating this small food.
However, while the egg as a whole can be great, both egg whites and egg yolk can have different effects on your health. Looking to separate the egg yolks from the egg whites? Keep on reading to see what Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, FAND award-winning nutrition expert, Wall Street Journal best-selling author of The Family Immunity Cookbook, and member of our medical expert board, has to say about what egg yolks can do for your body. Then, check out Why You Should Be Eating Eggs Right Now.
“Egg yolks contain the phytochemical lutein, which is also what gives the yolk that gorgeous yellow hue,” says Amidor.
According to Amidor, lutein has been linked with eye health. Specifically, lutein has been connected to preventing macular degeneration—the cause of vision loss, which may occur as you age.
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“The yolk contains almost half the protein in the entire egg,” says Amidor.
Generally speaking, a whole egg is rich with nearly 13% protein. If you’re eating one extra-large egg that consists of 7 grams of protein, 3 of those grams would belong to the egg yolk.
“Protein helps with a variety of functions, including building muscles, so don’t toss those golden yolks,” Amidor exclaims.
Amidor suggests that the yolk also provides omega-3 fats, which have been shown to help promote heart health and reduce the risk of dying from heart disease.
Certain omega-3 fats have also been linked to potentially killing cancer cells and may help with arthritis.
“The egg yolk is one of the only food sources of vitamin D,” says Amidor. “Vitamin D helps calcium get absorbed—and both help keep your bones healthy.”
Amidor further suggests that it’s important for both children and adults to get enough of this nutrient to prevent the risk of bone diseases. This includes rickets in children and osteoporosis in adults.
“In addition, vitamin D is one of the under-consumer nutrients in every population as per the 2020-2025 dietary guidelines for Americans,” says Amidor.
Kayla Garritano